Ryderwood Man Died From Gunshot Wound

Travis Eugene Seiber, the 47-year-old Ryderwood man found dead Monday at his home north of Ryderwood, died from a gunshot wound to the head and his death has been ruled a homicide, according to the Cowlitz County Coroner's Office.

The findings follow completion of an autopsy Tuesday evening.

Deputies and an EMS unit from Cowlitz-Lewis Fire District 20 responded to reports of a person "down" in their residence at 7:21 a.m., according to a sheriff's press release.

Seiber was pronounced dead at his residence in the 700 block of SR 506.

David Stormo, president of the Ryderwood Improvement Service Association, said there was a "reaction of concern" from residents in the retirement community located near the Cowlitz-Lewis County line. Stormo also said law enforcement reassured him there was no threat to the community at large.

"(The sheriff) said the investigation up to that point had been that it was a personal vendetta and not something that would be a concern to the community," Stormo said.

Stormo said Seiber lived about a quarter-mile north of Ryderwood and that Seiber didn't spend a lot of time in town but would come to community events and breakfasts occasionally. He said he didn't know Seiber well, but they would often stop to chat.

Seiber's mother, Jan Jensen, still lives in Ryderwood.

"There's always a concern among older citizens when someone gets murdered a quarter mile out of town. ... And then there are others that just (believe) that's the nature of life nowadays," Stormo said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information concerning the case to contact the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office at (360) 577-3092. Detectives would also like to be contacted by anyone who may have video of SR 506 between Interstate 5 and Ryderwood, as well as any other connecting roads in the area. Case Detective is Lorenzo Gladson and Detective Sergeant is Troy Brightbill.

Detectives handling the case could not be immediately reached for comment.